IX; C.I.A. LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R001200060015-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2005
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: November 10, 1975
• Content Type: MF

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10 November 1975
SA/DDO/75-#89
MEMORANDUM FOR: Office of Legislative Counsel
ATTENTION
SUBJECT
IX; CIA Legislative Objectives
1. With regard to paragraph A of reference, entitled
"Restrictions on Domestic Activities": This subject will be
treated in a paper being prepared by I lof OGC with
assistance from of the DDO, entitled "Impact
of Various Legislative Restrictions on Foreign Intelligence
Activities," [responsive to Issue, Options and Action
Paper No. 8].
2. With regard to paragraphc C of reference entitled
"Covert Action": Per (2), while historically it has been
felt that the President should not be tied directly to
covert activities, I wonder if the myth of presidential
"plausible denial" has current validity. Perhaps, it is
preferable the American public knows that no major covert
action can be undertaken without presidential responsibility.
Kissinger has recently made it clear publicly that the
President is aware of all major covert actions and has
given them his approval. At this stage of history, with so
much publicity given to the "Rogue Elephant" concept, I
believe that Congress and the American public will insist
on Presidential approval despite the risks this entails to
the Chief Executive's prestige and credibility.
3. What should be spelled out more clearly is the kinds
of covert action which should require Presidential approval
and overisght committees' notification. The hundreds of minor
media operations and the many contracts whom we refer to as
"agents of influence" are neither risky, expensive nor
exceptional enough to warrant high level approval and notifi-
cation.
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4. Another subject which could cause difficulty is
that of intelligence collection controls. We are now free
of external controls over our collection activities, but I
devine sentiment on the part of some influential SSC staffers
that collection operations as well as covert action opera-
tions should be subjected to 40-Committee-type and/or ambas-
sadorial control and review. This would be most inhibiting,
and, in the case of Ambassadors, would seriously erode the
Director's ability to protect sources and methods. Any new
legislation should avoid, even implicitly, subjecting intel-
ligence collection to controls beyond the Agency, except
when there is exceptional risk. We must remain the Agency
which determines risk.
Distribution:
2 - OLC
2 - SA/DDO
1 -
SA/DDO e
c
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 D
UIICI.ASSIFIED INTERNAL
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
IX; CIA Legislative Objectives
FROM:
John H. Waller
EXTENSION
NO.
2B-1415 SA/DDO
DATE
10 November 1.975
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
OLC
7D-35
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FORM
3-62
61 O USE PREVIOUS ^ SECRET ^ CONFIDENTIAL ^ INTERNAL
ONLY ^ UNCLASSIFIED
1 1c 75
CONFIDENTIAL ^ SECRET